'The conditions have changed'

At the Vancouver Games four years ago, snow was brought in by helicopter as higher than average temperatures wreaked havoc with the competitions.

"The conditions have changed," said American skier Bode Miller. "Now it is a completely different race course. It is going to be tough, because of all the good slalom skiers out there.

"The downhill could have done some real separation if the course remained hard and icy. It could have been a real challenge for the slalom guys. It could have made a pretty big gap on the downhill side.

"It could have been a great race but now the conditions are much easier and it will be much more difficult to put some time on."

Image: Hannah Kearney of the United States competes in the Ladies' Moguls Final.Photographs: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images